Tongzhou, located in the hinterland of the Songliao Plain, is an important thoroughfare between Liaoning, Beijing and Tokyo. It is a critical place. Under the background of the Han-Liao War and the direct impact of the Liaodong War, its status has also been shortened in a short period of time.
It skyrocketed in more than a month.
Today, on the Liao side, this city has succeeded Liaoyang and become the political and military center of the Liao's rule over the northeastern region. Of course, this elevated political status during the war seems so illusory, a little desolate, and even ironic.
This is the direct impact of the defeat in the Liaodong battlefield. At the same time, the territory that it can directly control and maintain a certain degree of influence is already very limited. Compared with the vast northeastern land, it is even more of a corner. However, Yelu Xiezhen can
There is only this corner of the country left to rely on to resist the unrelenting and aggressive Han army.
The Haidong land in the rear that relied on it still belonged to the Liao Kingdom in name, but in fact, it was completely out of control. Shiwei, the scourges among the Jurchens that had never been completely eradicated, unsurprisingly took the opportunity to launch an attack, and the old Bohai Sea
, there was also a rebellion in the sky, with various tribes and tribes vying to revolt against the rule of the Liao court, expelling the generals who massacred the Khitan, and using simple, rough, fierce and cruel methods to destroy the Liao's rule over the northeastern region.
Because rebellions have sprung up and spread throughout the territory, many states and departments have lost contact. Among the officials and generals of the Liao Kingdom, there may be some who are loyal and waiting for help, but most of them directly change the king's flag and change their appearance, taking the opportunity to fight for power and profit.
of.
Many tribes, officials, and generals under the rule of the Liao Kingdom have already established their own businesses. They even took some letters of appointment from the Han Dynasty and started to seize territory and annex tribes under the banner of the Han Dynasty...
Counting from Yelu Abaoji's eastern expedition to the Bohai Kingdom, the Liao Kingdom has ruled the Northeast for almost fifty years. Half a century is not too short. The work of assimilation and rule of the local area has also been in progress, and the effects have been
good.
However, it turns out that the rule that originally seemed to be relatively stable was so fragile that it collapsed so quickly that people were completely unable to react. The failure on the frontal battlefield had such a huge impact that it could even be disrupted by just some spies.
There was a huge chaos and it was out of control. Yelv Xiezhen wanted to rely on it to rely on the enemy's rear, but eventually collapsed first and became a thorn in his back.
Similar to Liaoyang, Tongzhou was also in chaos. The army was in turmoil and the people were in turmoil. All kinds of people gathered in Tongyuan City. There were local tribesmen and civilians, refugees who suffered from the war, fleeing nobles, and defeated troops who were defeated.
The influx of a large number of people directly exceeded the carrying capacity of this originally inconspicuous city. Even with Yelu Xiezhen's strong management, it was only a temporary solution but not the root cause.
The most basic point is, how can we fill and feed so many mouths? After the protracted war with the Han army in Liaodong, various materials have been severely consumed. The Battle of Liaohe River even led to the exploitation and plundering of the cities in Liaodong for use.
The large amount of food and baggage that had been retreated to the north were completely lost.
Therefore, for the remnants of the Liao army that retreated to Tongzhou, the threat from the Han army in the south was certainly huge, but the most urgent crisis was food and military supplies.
After retreating to Tongzhou, Yelv Xiezhen, in addition to reorganizing the army and repairing city defenses to prepare for the Han army, also focused most of his energy on raising military supplies. The situation was bad enough, but what troubled him the most was
Still, this is an urgent problem that must be solved.
For this reason, Yelv Xiezhen also tried his best, even more than before, leaving no escape route and regardless of the consequences. All people who fled to Tongzhou, regardless of their status, had their property, food and clothing confiscated, and at the same time, they sent troops to plunder
, searched all the people's food, property and livestock, and gathered all the food and livestock that could be used in Tongyuan City.
Yelv Xiezhen sent several armies to the north and east, not only to wipe out the rebels, pacify the rebels, and try to restore stability in the rear, but also to "recruit" grain and livestock to send grain out.
At the same time, the refugees in Tongzhou were also selected, and the strong and strong laborers were incorporated into the army. All the other old, weak, women and children were expelled, and they were sent to Shangjing with a small amount of rations. Life or death was no longer taken into consideration. In this way, a certain amount of logistical pressure was relieved.
There were also some nobles and officials who fled to Tongzhou, and they were also unlucky. Many of them had a destination other than Tongzhou, but wanted to flee to Beijing for refuge. However, Yelv Xiezhen refused. Not only were they detained, but they also took them with them.
The property, including cattle and horses, were also confiscated and used for military purposes.
Under such circumstances, it is conceivable that people in Tongzhou City are disorganized and complaining. The most unpleasant thing is the loss of military morale, even though Yelv Xiezhen has been working hard to boost it and reward the looted gold.
The silver and jade articles did not revive morale.
That is to say, the troops sent out to quell the rebellion achieved some victories, brought back some captures, and gave the Liao army a good meal, which calmed the morale of the army a little.
However, the mood of defeat and despair still spread among the Liao army and shrouded the city. No matter what, it would never go away. After the Battle of Liaohe River, Yelv Xiezhen's lofty prestige also suffered a major blow. The Liao army
Many people, both high and low, lost confidence in Yelv Xiezhen and did not believe that he could lead them to victory again.
And the loss of confidence is also the most terrifying.
This year's autumn wind seems to be particularly cold. Although the sky is high and the clouds are clear, the entire Tongyuan City seems to be shrouded in a haze. It is very quiet inside and outside the city. Apart from the sound of wind and animals, it is almost impossible to hear the sound of human beings.
On the top of the city, the flag of the Liao Kingdom was still flying, but it gave people a shaky feeling. The soldiers were still well guarded, and patrolling Liao soldiers passed by from time to time, but everyone seemed to be covered by an invisible layer.
bound by pressure.
Tongyuan City was not only the last and most important base for the Liao Kingdom to defend the Northeast, but it also seemed to have become a cage, binding Yelu Xiezhen and everyone he "kidnapped".
Standing on the city wall and looking around, you can see acres of farmland surrounded by two rivers, showing desolation and destruction. In the past season, birds and beasts were eating among them. However, this year, due to the war, the land was abandoned and the land was abandoned.
Birds and beasts don't want to visit anymore.
Yelu Xiezhen stood solemnly at the top of the city, with the desolate wind blowing on his face and chilling his heart. He was not yet forty, but his age was evident and his hair was pale. Even compared with a few months ago, he looked so much younger.
It's almost two people.
Failure, especially heart-wrenching and unforgettable failure, is often the catalyst of time...The same goes for Yelu Xiezhen.
Looking at the desolate scene below the city and feeling the gloomy atmosphere in the city, Yelu Xiezhen's eyes were a little blurred, and his mood was hard to describe in words. No one could understand the current situation better than him. The end was not yet over.
But after all, there was no hope or a way out. In a daze, he even saw the fate of himself, Tongyuan City and the remnants of the Liao army.
Perhaps, there is still a way out, which is to lead the remnant troops and retreat westward to Beijing, but that is destined to be a difficult road. Whether it is because of personal dignity, pride or anything else, he has chosen to reject that decision.
Regarding the loss of Liaodong, Emperor Yelvxian of Liao still did not blame him. Even after receiving the battle report, they sent a consolation edict as quickly as possible, and still put him in charge of the Northeast War, coordinating military affairs, and defending against the Han army.
Behind this magnanimity and trust, Yelv Xiezhen could clearly detect the many intertwined emotions of anger, disappointment and dissatisfaction.
Yelv Xiezhen himself also understood that he had no other way out. If he chose to escape back to Beijing, he would probably end up facing death. After all, he ignored the imperial edict and abandoned Liaoyang without permission, which eventually led to the great defeat in Liaohe.
It's a capital crime.
The reason why Yelv Xian handed over all the military and administrative affairs of the Northeast to Yelu Xiezhen was because Yelv Xian had already chosen to give up. Yelv Xiezhen, like the huge Northeast, was an abandoned object and would no longer embrace it.